Wish you were here

Chapter 12. Hope you enjoy ! Reviews, reviews, reviews!

The day of the trial had come.

Shiori was taken from her cell to the room by Sophia, who insisted for being the one who accompanied her. Although she didn't show it, Shiori felt her bit worried. She supposed it was normal, as her own child was put on a trial with very nil chance to be saved. However, when she was about to enter in the room, she asked her:

"What about Kakeru?"

"…I told him. He will leave."

"I see. It's a good thing." She said, although the tone meant the contrary. Sophia sighed.

"You, dear Ursula are just silly."

"Thanks, Sophia."

She knew it was a good thing after all. When the two women entered into the room, the public became quiet. Shiori looked around her. A lot of apostles came her to assist to the trial. There is a lot she didn't know and some of them she knew very briefly. She found Chiara, who was in the public, a very worried look in her face staring up at her. There was like she expected Benedictus who was here, and who looked the scene very attentive. Shiori saw also Samson next to an empty seat. Sophia tapped on Shiori's shoulder.

"I think I must let you now. I don't really have some advice to give you unfortunately. But…the only thing is…Don't stare up at the Pope or people who will ask you some question. Okay?"

"Yes. Thanks Sophia."

Sophia sighed and came to sit down next to Samson. Shiori was surprised but didn't care and took a seat. Johanna was sat down on the center. She was surrounded by others people, including the magus who brought her here. Her face was very serious but she still kept her malicious look in her eyes. Everything was just a game to her, apparently. Shiori closed her eyes, ready.

One apostle stood up. "Ursula of the Bookshelf. Stand up!"

She obeyed. "We are reunited here for Ursula of the Bookshelf's trial. She is charged of having given a false report of her mission to the Pope Great Holy Johanna."

Ursula didn't answer. "So, sit down. So, dear Ursula. Is it true? Have you really faked your report?"

"…" Ursula already knew it was lost but she however wanted to give a last struggle. "…No. I'm innocent."

"Very well. Have you got witnesses to support your plea?"

"…" The only witnesses she had were her friends. But due to their nature, she couldn't risk something which would threaten their safety. "…No."

"Okay. Another question: have you really defeated the great witch, Liselotte Werckmeister, the witch of Babylon, who was a great threat for us and the world for 64 years?"

"…Yes, Sir." When she said these two words, she could hear a chuckle from Benedictus, as he didn't believe it. She sighed.

"I see. And are you sure having power enough to defeat her?" At this question, Sophia stood up. "Of course she is!"

"Mrs, sit down." "Don't call me MRS! I'm not married!" Sophia cried out, apparently lost it. Really. Shiori sighed and Samson caught her by her arms to make her sit down. The apostle sighed. "It's clear you have a lot of power but I think you should have a real gap between you and Liselotte. I've difficulties to believe it. Are you sure someone didn't help you? Anyone?"

"…" Yes My friends. "…Nobody, sir."

"I see. Another question: who were these young people who accompanied you to Index?"

"…Friends, sir. They are magus, as I am." She said. After all, if Kakeru and Yuka were already gone, they didn't risk anything. She could still protect them. She promised them. "Magus? What kind of magus? They aren't part of Index."

Johanna kept smiling. "They…are magus from Japan. They helped me…When I was in another mission and I defeated a dangerous wizard which threatened Japan." She remembered Shuu's help. She still said it. "I wanted just to say goodbye to them."

"I see. And are they involved in Liselotte's defeat?"

"…No, Sir."

"I don't believe it!" An apostle said. "She is lying, it's obvious!" "Calm down, Gil." The apostle said. "We aren't there to know if she is lying or not. But to know if she really faked her report. Ursula." He turned back toward her. "Last question: how did you defeat Liselotte?"

"…I used…my most powerful spell. Bibliotheca Pan Magica. With my 5000 books in my body."

"Hm." An apostle said. "It's rather powerful to defeat such a witch like her."

"No. Liselotte would never be killed by this way."

"Effectively. She had the Phantasmagoria spell after all!"

"Bibliotheca Pan Magica even couldn't defeat her!" Benedictus ended up by standing up. "I know. I've got one with just 600 books. I know there is such a gap between Ursula's one and me, but I can guarantee there isn't way to defeat Liselotte with it."

Shiori glared at him. So. He really will do everything to push her forward the scaffold. "Interesting. So." An apostle said. "She must really lied to us. That's suspicious."

"I see. And even if I don't know which one, I think there must have a way to defeat Liselotte definitely. After all, she also has regeneration spell. Even if Ursula used Bibliotheca Pan Magica spell on her, she could still survive to this."

"So. Ursula. That was the end of my questions. Before the Council's decision, I would like to ask you one last thing."

"Yes?"

"…Are you sure you're really innocent in this case? You can still change your plea. And telling you're guilty to us."

"…I just have something to say."

"We listen to you."

Shiori ended up by standing up. She took a breath, as for telling a speech. "You are very cruel."

"Is that so?" Johanna talked for the first time during the trial. Shiori didn't look at her and went on her speech. "Shuu was right. Since the beginning. You Index are cruel and tyrannical toward each and everyone, no matter if they are magus or human. And even if you are doing great things, you are doing the worst things."

"How you DARE!" People in public began to speak loudly, which made one of apostle begging the silence. Everyone began quiet. Sophia and Chiara looked at her, surprised. Benedictus frowned. Only Johanna stayed quiet, attentive. She sighed. "Go on, Ursula. I'm sure you would like to go on your speech. After all, it's maybe the last you can do."

"Thanks, Great Holy." Shiori went on. "You are doing the worst and most wronged things, and since Index creation. You are maybe threatened but your actions lead to their threat. I learned Liselotte's condition, and I understood despite how many horrible things she did, it's rather clear you Index are involved in something which made her in the state she was. You also send every apostle who is loyal to you to death and without any regret. Although I defeated Liselotte, I could die too. It was the same for Punishment Squad. You sent them without any regret to death and hell. Even if they came back…"

To the word Punishment Squad, Shiori saw Samson goggling. She turned back toward Benedictus, who stared up at her, rather surprised by her speech. "Am I wrong ? Every people you think as a threat, you just eliminate them. We are your puppets."

"…"

A silence came across the room. Shiori took another breath. "But. I'm not your puppet. I can be just a doll but since my mission, I just learned one thing. I've a soul. As everyone. I want to live. I want to live with my friends without anybody who can decide about my fate. Even if I must to die for it…"

"…Shiori." Chiara said, stunned. Johanna smiled. But her look change. Now, she had a look which meant "how interesting…" Shiori sighed. "That's all."

She sat down, relieved by everything she did. "So. Council People will deliberate. Wait for it."

Shiori nodded. During the deliberation, Sophia and Chiara came toward her. "How amazing your speech was!" Chiara took her hand. "Are you okay?"

"…Yes. I'm okay now. No matter the decision will be, I could finally said the thing I always wanted to say."

She turned back toward Benedictus, who stayed sat down. And she could see his look changed. She didn't know why but she felt him guilty and surely remorseful for what he did to her. Finally, while he talked with Samson, he ended up by standing up and left the room. Apparently, shame followed him. She could see it.

"The Council will give back its decision." Sophia and Chiara left Shiori, who was standing up, ready. "Ursula of The Bookshelf. The verdict is…guilty."

She expected it. "So. Leniency is unnecessary for you after everything you said. So. The punishment is the execution. You will be condemned to the stake tomorrow, at 10:AM. Nothing can be helped for it."

"…Yes, Sir."

"So. Shiori will be taken to her cell to tomorrow."

"Yes."

While she was brought to her cell, she turned back toward Chiara and Sophia and smiled to them, as for meaning she was okay, no matter what.

Her last night. She couldn't expect it will be like that. Like a prisoner. So she was after all. But she expected Council decision. It was obvious from the beginning.

She didn't really have some requirement, except for something. She wanted to do something. What she wanted to say…

"Shiori-san!"

Shiori turned back toward the person who called her…who was nobody else but Kakeru himself!

"…Kakeru. What are you doing here?"

"…I learned. I…How pitiful I am…" Kakeru looked down, very awkward and very sad at the same time. "I…did nothing…"

"It's okay, Kakeru. You're for nothing."

"But…I wanted to…I wanted to be here for your trial…To support you! And…"

"I didn't want you to it. I didn't want you to be involved."

"Shiori!" Kakeru cried out, but became awkward. Someone could come here. "We are friends…It's our role to support you! I wanted to help you!"

"…I know. I did everything to protect you, you and the others."

"…"

"I will be executed tomorrow."

"…"

Kakeru looked down and Shiori could see how much Kakeru felt bad. "I regret nothing. I'm happy to die for people I love. It's like that I always wanted to end. Even for a doll like me."

"…Shiori. You don't have to die."

"…If I could at least saved you…I'm happy."

"…Shiori…I don't want…"

Kakeru looked down and tears began to roll on his cheeks. "…My friends…are everything to me. If I lost one…If I lost you…I could never get over it!" He began to sob, without stopping. "I don't want you…to die!"

"…Kakeru."

Kakeru looked up at her. "What?"

"…Come closer here please."

He obeyed. "Now….close your eyes." Kakeru was surprised but ended up by obeying to it too. Shiori stayed unmoving during some minutes then came closer to him, and despite her barriers, put her lips on his. And kissed him. This gesture made Kakeru shocked, and confused him. He goggled. "Shiori…"

"That's okay…"

"…Shiori…"

"Kakeru…I know how you think me as a friend."

"…"

She took another breath. "Kakeru…I love you. I always loved you."

"…Shiori."

"I don't care if I'm rejected. I just wanted…to tell it to you…before to die."

"…Shiori!"

"Nobody…called me…as a human. No Sophia. No Chiara. You…are the first who called me as a friend. And as someone dears…"

"…"

"I love you."

And without another word, she moved away and began to lie down on her bed. Then she closed her eyes, ready for her last night, ignoring Kakeru in the process, who stayed here unmoving.